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Thursday, May 26, 2011

I'm hooked on square cards, and naturally their square envelope counterparts! Today's project features a 5¼” square congratulations card that I sent inside a very cool 5½” square translucent envelope, which just happens to still be on sale. That's a win-win situation all around!

To make this fun pop-up card cut a piece of double-sided patterned cardstock to 5¼” x 10½”; score at 5¼” and fold. Reopen paper and draw pencil lines to create a square on the left side of paper ¾” in from sides and the center fold. Use a ruler and craft knife on a cutting mat to cut three sides and SCORE ONLY at the top of the penciled square.

Score this flap, which is now a 3¾” square, at the halfway point to create a “mountain” fold. Next, run adhesive along both sides and the bottom of solid side, and fold cardstock to create a pocket.Using a 1” circle punch, cut a half circle at center/top of front pocket, creating a notch.

Cut a coordinating piece of double sided patterned cardstock to 3¾” x 4¾”; punch a vertical slot in the top to place some ribbon scraps as a pull. Score ¼” from the bottom, flip up and run adhesive along this tiny flap. Adhere this tiny flap to the back/bottom of the flap as shown:

You can now manipulate the flap by pulling on the ribbons, which “opens and closes” the card! To create the card’s focal point, cut a piece of patterned cardstock to 3¾” x 4½” and a piece of white cardstock to 3¼” x 4” and stamp your main image and sentiment; color with Copic markers and paper piece areas as shown. Embellish with buttons; edge with colored ink and adhere this piece to the patterned cardstock piece. Now adhere the bottom of this to the bottom half of the folded flap. And for the surprise, pull the flap up and stamp a sentiment inside. Place card inside translucent envelope – it looks so cool with the patterned paper peeking through!

Step 2: Score your card bases at 5 1/4" and 10 1/2", leaving a 1/2" at one end of three pieces. Remove the 1/2" scored section from the fourth piece.

Step 3: Place your card base pieces next to each other, with the 1/2" fold on the right side of each piece. Adere the card base sections together, gluing the 1/2" flap of the first section to the back of the next section. (The last section will be the piece that has the 1/2" flap removed).

Step 6: Adhere the 5"x5" pieces of colored cardstock to your card base.
Step 7: Cut letters for your message from cardstock. I really like the way that the Pop Tone cardstock cuts using my Cricut machine! I also cut a shadow for each letter in a coordinating color.

Friday, May 20, 2011

For today's tutorial, we're going to expand on our May 5th product feature and step through a way that you can create fun homemade stationery or party invitations using paper from Cutcardstock!

Lettermint Press was founded on the premise that notes or invitations by mail are far more fun to receive than email. At Lettermint Press, we create fun off-the-shelf or custom invitations, stationery, notecards, etc for all occasions.

For this project you will need:
- Several sheets of kraft paper cardstock (12"x12")
- Several sheets of cardstock in the color of your choice (preferably a lighter color for ease of printing or writing with dark ink) - we're using Basis cardstock from Cutcardstock in the example
- Several additional sheets of paper (lighter weight, not cardstock) to use for envelope liners
- Square 6" kraft paper envelopes from Cutcardstock or other envelopes (we love A1 sized envelopes for thank you notes)
- Ruler and scissors or cutting/scoring tool
- Double stick tape or glue stick
- (Optional) scalloped edge cutting blade (Martha Stewart's line has a good one)

PREPARATION:

First, cut backing layers for your invitation or notecard from the kraft paper cardstock. If you're using a 6" envelope, you will want to cut a square backing layer that is 1/4 inch shorter on each side (cut to 5 3/4" x 5 3/4").

Next, cut invitation (top) layers from your colored cardstock of choice. This layer should again be 1/4 inch shorter than the backing layer, or 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" for the square invites.

Then, cut a rectangular piece from the lighter weight paper to use for the envelope liner. You can use the same color as the invitation layer or use a complementary color. The rectangle should be cut at 5 3/4" wide by approx. 6 1/2" long if using a 6" square envelope.

Finally (optional), using your scalloped blade tool, cut the edges of the invitation layer (and edge of envelope liner if you wish) into the scalloped pattern.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Due to the difficulties we have been experiencing with BLOGGER recently, we have been putting up new posts at an alternative CutCardStock BLOG. Please visit us there to see new tutorials and updated information. We apologize for the inconvenience. If Blogger gets fixed we will move back to this site.

Why stop at just the card when creating something special to send? With just a couple of extra steps, you can add a special touch to an envelope. The extra effort is sure to put a smile on their face before they even open it up!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

We are currently having technical issues with Blogger and are unable to update posts. We are hoping that our scheduled posts will be able to be made live soon. We have been dealing with the technical issues for about a week now and are hoping Blogger will have them resolved soon. We apologize for not being able to offer more tutorials and projects at this time.

Step One: Seal the envelope using adhesive on the corners to ensure they don't peel up. Randomly stamp a few coordinating stamps on both sides of the envelope. **note: We'll be using the envelope bottom side up in this project**

Step Two: Cut about 1/4" off the bottom of your envelope. Now it will open from the bottom. Score the envelope 1" from your sealed flap. Then, rotate the envelope a quarter turn and score at 3/4" and 5 3/4".

Step Three: Use a bone folder to be sure the score lines are crisp. This will help as you begin to make your bag.

Step Four: Make a mountain, valley, mountain fold on each side of the envelope, using the score lines as guides. The pre-scored edges of the envelope will become the valley folds. At this time, you'll also fold the bottom of your luminary. The pre-scored top of the envelope will be a seam down the middle.

Step 5: At this point, you'll have two triangles at the bottom of the bag. Fold these flaps to the bottom and adhere with strong adhesive.

Monday, May 9, 2011

OK, there are a gazillion gift-giving occasions coming in the next couple months – teacher appreciation, graduation, Father’s Day, weddings, showers, birthdays, anniversaries and more! You say you want to give something special, handmade and very unique, but you don’t want to spend a fortune or loads of your precious time? I’ve got the perfect project for you -- a simple square envelope mini album you can whip up in a snap!

I adore Cut Cardstock’s square envelopes. They come in several sizes, colors and textures so finding the right one is easy. But the best thing about these envelopes is that they’re ON SALE RIGHT NOW! Gotta love a bargain, right?

For my teacher thank you gift I made a square mini album using the six-inch natural square envelopes. I used three envelopes, but you could easily make as many pages/envelopes as you want.

I began by adhering the first envelope’s bottom to the second envelope’s flap. Line up the bottom of the first just a little bit above the crease on the second’s flap (maybe 1/8"), as this will allow a tad more “foldability” when your album is complete. What you end up with is a sort of accordion.

This forms your base and all you do is decorate to your heart’s content. Here’s how I created my vintage inspired teacher’s album for my niece’s preschool teacher, Miss Jessie.

The cover and back of the album are covered with two 6” x 6” squares of patterned paper. I inked the edges with Distress Ink and a sponge dauber. Using a pennant punch I created the flags for my banner and adhered them to baker’s twine with liquid adhesive. To give the appearance of the banners being tied to the cover I tucked & taped the ends of the twine under the cover paper. Before adhering the cover papers I placed a yard of thin red gingham ribbon to tie the album closed, anchoring the ribbon with adhesive and then covering it with patterned paper on both the front and back covers. The back cover is actually the back of the second envelope. The letters on the pennants are Maya Road Jonathan mini chipboard covered with white pigment ink and then ultrafine glitter.

I chose to cover the flap on the first envelope with patterned paper. You could tuck the flap in and leave it uncovered – either way is perfectly acceptable. I cut two pieces of patterned paper at 2” x 6”, adhered them to each side of the flap, one at a time, trimming the excess to fit the tapered edges. Then I inked the edges. Each of the interior pages is covered with patterned paper cut at 5-1/2” x 6”, which allows the opening of the envelopes to be easily accessible. The back of the third envelope folds into the album and is covered with a 6” x 6” piece of patterned paper.

I used a variety of buttons, baker’s twine, mini clothespin, fancy scalloped border punch, a bit of polka dotted ribbon stapled to a library card with a Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher and slipped inside a library pocket. The stamps are from a Papertrey Ink set called Teacher’s Apple.

Finally, I made three 5-1/2” square inserts for the envelope pockets using Cut Cardstock’s Brown Bag kraft cardstockand stapling a little flap of ribbon on the side of each insert and adhering a tiny button onto the ribbon pull. Then I placed a cardstock-mounted photo to each of the finished inserts using Cut Cardstock’s Pop-Tone cardstock in Wild Cherry.

A very simple project that’s easy to make and fun to give! Make one this evening – you’re sure to feel that sense of accomplishment when you finish in time to watch your favorite TV show! Click here for printable instructions.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

With warmer weather on the way, it's time to start planning those backyard barbecues and pool parties. For this, email simply won't suffice. For your party, only a traditionally mailed invitation will do. Cutcardstock has the perfect paper to create your own one-of-a-kind party invitation.

At Lettermint Press, we find kraft paper cardstock to be the essential casual paper to use for an invitation to a summer party. Cutcardstock offers a variety of pre-cut card sizes and matching envelopes. Try square invites and envelopes to add an extra element of fun. Print invitations at home or write them out! Either way your guests will be especially excited to attend the event.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

﻿It’s that time of year again. Wish a graduate well with this card that doubles as a gift. With the inside pocket, you can add a gift card, check or the insanely popular cash! The square design of this card is trendy and fun…. perfect for any graduate.